Stories for June 22nd 2018

Jamie Bowden has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Chile in succession to Ms Fiona Clouder. Mr Jamie Bowden, called on the Acting Director of Protocol of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Patricio Guesalaga, during his first day Ambassador to Chile.

Argentine stocks surged on Thursday after index provider MSCI upgraded the country to its emerging markets index a day earlier, a respite from months of dismal economic news for market-friendly President Mauricio Macri. The local Merval stock index closed up 6%, led by industrials and banks. Investment bank Grupo Financiero Valores led gains, rising 18.3%, while aluminum producer Aluar rose 13%.

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has promised the team will give everything they have to try and qualify for the World Cup's round of 16 after their hopes of progression suffered the hammer blow of a 3-0 loss to Croatia.

Brazil’s top labor court on Thursday ruled in favor of workers at Petrobras in a wage dispute that could cost the world’s most indebted oil company up to 17 billion Reais (US$ 4.5 billion). Petrobras may still appeal the Superior Labor Court’s ruling in the case, brought by oil workers seeking more pay.

Foreign minister Jorge Faurie reiterated before the United Nations Decolonization Committee or C24, that Argentina wishes to establish a dialogue with the UK to solve the Malvinas Islands dispute, and underlined he believed that “favorable conditions” for such a scenario have been created and are advancing.

U.S. protectionism is self-defeating and a “symptom of paranoid delusions” that must not distract China from its path to modernization, Chinese state media said on Friday. China has stepped up its war of words with the United States since President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to hit US$ 200 billion of Chinese imports with 10% tariffs if China retaliates against his previous targeting of US$ 50 billion in imports.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has warned the UK there will be no Brexit deal without agreement on the Irish border. On a visit to Dublin, Mr Juncker said fellow EU member states would not let Ireland be “isolated” on the impasse, insisting the demand for a resolution was a Europe-wide demand.

The head of Nato has called on Britain to continue investing in defense amid claims that Theresa May has questioned the UK’s role as a leading military power. In a speech in London, Jens Stoltenberg said he expected the UK to continue playing a major international role.

A Falkland Islands delegation recently travelled to London to attend the Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations, which basically is dealing with Brexit negotiations and its impact for Overseas Territories. The delegation was made up of MLA Teslyn Barkman, together with Senior Policy Advisor Richard Hyslop and were joined by Falklands London Representative Sukey Cameron

Nicola Sturgeon is to meet senior UK government politicians for the first time since accusing them of ripping up the devolution settlement. The first minister will hold talks with Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington in Guernsey.